so you’ve never heard of tetris attack.  you probably never played it, either.  in fact, you probably think that it’s just like tetris–only good for techno remixes of the game soundtrack… but the truth is that this game really has nothing to do with tetris other than it’s a puzzle-style game.  sure, there’s this similar “don’t hit the top” mentality, but that’s it.  what it is, however, … is just one very very very addictive game, especially if you have someone else to play it with.

what do we learn from a game such as this?  it is zen in a cartridge.  as you get better and better, the technique eventually becomes to ‘blur your eyes’ and allow your hands to control the screen without cognitive thought.  somehow, you just move.  you know what to do.  you don’t think.  you don’t even realize what’s happening, much like a deep meditation.  it’s awesome.  if zen and meditation is a concentration on an idea, then this cartridge is budda in your pocket.

In my first of many battles against the Nazis (later battles include all the MOH, COD, etc.), my goal was to find a suitcase bomb and then find Hitler and then ask the two of them to spend time hanging out together (10 minutes was it) while I ran away. Once I was safe… the bomb went boom.

This game was f@#%’in great! Want to play it?! I thought so…. Beyond Castle Wolfenstein.

So many NES games involve the development of characters, the multiple-environment world, a plot that develops throughout the story, etc. Jaws, however, simply involves Jaws. Jaws swims around and you eventually have to kill him. Of course, there’s a little more dynamic to it, but not too much. For this nintendo classic, shells equate to money (“sucks to your Ass-mah!”) and you can save up to buy your way to being stronger (read: visit America in the year 2008 for the same thing). Then you drive your boat around “looking” for Jaws (although he seems to find you). After a little while into the video game, you can get yourself a mini-sub. This makes your attack against Jaws a lot stronger, but–and trust me on this–you can never keep the minisub for too long. For those who remember Jaws the video game, and those who LOVE Jaws the video game, I present to you a chance to play your old favorite, once again! (this time it is in flash…but the same thing as the nintendo cart)

Jaws, the videogame.

When I drove out to California from the East Coast, I’m sure I’ve passed many people that swear God is addictive. This cart only affirms that! What an addictive little selection of games for those seeking a healthy fear of our Lord! Whether you had to get baby Moses to the water or animals in the ark, the game played the same–you carried and threw objects to get them to go where you wanted them to go. In the meantime, other things try to stop you from achieving your goal.

For a religious title, I certainly didn’t stop and ask people if I could take their sheep, cattle, etc. and put them on my boat. No one seemed to care, actually, so I just stole a whole bunch of livestock, sealed up the door to my boat, and let humanity drown all over themselves. F them. I’ll save myself (and their animals, which will make great steaks during the long flood).

What did we learn? Take your neighbor’s cattle without asking and let them rot and die while you’re nice and safe. And they say video games only recently became truthfully violent….

Not only was this another wonderful game, but you got to throw chickens! I couldn’t find a place where anyone can play Zelda, but I still had to go forward and post about A Link To The Past regardless. It’s a wonderful cart and I want to make sure it was on the list of the things I’ve learned because without it, I’d never find my way around Southern California (and would probably end up in South Central).

hmmm. I think that sums it up, pretty much.

You can play Rampage! by downloading it from the Underdogs, though…

When I think back and look at life, I’m reminded continually of how one finally arrives at where he or she thinks they were to end up.  Living happily in a relationship, working at a great job, living in a particular city…only to find that, in six months, all that has been stripped away and we’re forced to start over.

Que Final Fantasy.  Arguably one of the greatest video games of all time.  You had to play for nearly 15 hours to defeat the first boss (unless you rush, but then what’s the fun in that).  Only AFTER you beat the first boss and set out to cross the bridge to the next town, do you find yourself face to face with an opening title screen!  15 hours just to get to the title screen!  After all that work, you would never have guessed you’d be face-to-face with the beginning of the game.  Much is the same in life, just when you think you’ve got yourself going, an opening title screen smacks you in the face and you realize that your journey is NOW just starting to begin.

I couldn’t find a site where you could play this online, but I figured I’d still give you something.  If you want to play the music from Final Fantasy, visit this site to download sheet music and midi files from Final Fantasy.

This game taught us so much–not only did it naturally inspire our desire to learn about famous historic characters (although this is NOT an educational title, everyone from Houdini to famous presidents are in this game and when you’re young, you do believe that knowing about the characters helps solve the mystery), but it opened up our thinking to outside possibilities.  Where are you going to find a world where you can “punch” anyone!?  Awesome.  I’ve always loved the power of thinking outside of the box, and this game first opened up that possibility to me (followed shortly thereafter by ZORK I).

Much love goes out to this title, one of the greatest games ever (greatest, in my humble opinion).

It’s been voted both one of the best and one of the worst video games ever. I question the source, each time, of course. Rygar is legendary. Horrible, at times, and wonderful, too. I liken it to true love–through hell and back is the only way you truly know you love someone. I love Rygar.

This cart was designed without a battery (so no saves were possible) and without codes (so you couldn’t jump in anywhere but at the beginning). One had to sit and play Rygar from beginning to end. The fun part, however, came once you realized that no man on Earth could sit and play this game through in one sitting. Sure, someone probably could now–but that’s ONLY because they took half of their childhood to beat it the first time. What did this mean? Well, like a fool, it meant that you tried and tried again. You never gave up–you STILL haven’t given up now! Someday, yes, you will beat Rygar. It’s on everyone’s list of things to do before they die. How can not be?

My favorite memories where when, after eight or nine hours of gameplay, dad would come and shut off the machine. He had no idea what game I was playing–I think he saw video games like a dog watches television (he doesn’t). Fine. But then mom would come in and tell me I could play for another hour or two, if I wanted. THANKS.

Here’s to Rygar, one hell of a game that I SWEAR I will someday overcome. Oh, and if you want to play it… try this out (I am NOT affiliated with any company what-so-ever, but I’ll try to find places you can go and play these games and share them with everyone).

in all of our lives, we’ve grown up entirely different than all of history. we’re the “plugged in” generation, growing and devouring anything electronic. it blows our minds that our parents cannot even check their email. what’s most intriguing, to me, is that for so many years we were continually in a war: video games vs. adults. wow. but you know what? we were right. after all this time, we were the ones who knew we weren’t wasting our time. we were learning lessons you couldn’t teach otherwise.

and so it goes, enter: SUPER MARIO BROTHERS. from that moment on, life was never the same. to this day, you can still play the super mario brothers music for anyone who remembers and simply watch the room relax. why are we the generation known as the pill poppers? i don’t think we need any anti-anxiety medication, just a good pair of headphones and a nintendo soundtrack. more recognizable than even christmas music? yep.

here’s a game built around the concept of a plumber who saves a princess (the programmers may have been doing drugs at the time). all the while facing baddies and dangerous jumps (truthfully, i’ve not traversed anywhere in the real world with a jump like you’d find in world 8-1…but maybe someday), swimming, fire-breathing turtles, etc. oh, and the hammer brothers. what a name. yes, my friends, we learned that, in the end, taking the shortcut (warps) was a great way to impress friends, but you always left feeling empty. to the game that reminds us to sometimes take the long road, …